“Good Morning. Welcome to English class here at Washington Middle School. I’m Mrs. Cochran. Now, I know some of you already know each other; but most of you don’t. You are all amazing people, and I’m eager to learn more about each of you. I’m handing out a questionnaire—please answer each question honestly.”

For the past 28 school years, Mrs. Cochran always started a new class the same way. She passed out the questionnaires, and the children dutifully completed them.

“When you are finished, I will call you up to the front to read your answers. Okay? I’ll give you about 10 minutes. Does everyone have a pen?”

Mrs. Cochran lumbered back to her desk, sat down and sipped coffee out of a polished white ceramic mug. She picked up an ivory-colored pen—her reward for being a faithful teacher for 25 years—and started writing, answering the questions right along with the class.

The classroom was painted plain vanilla white; and it seemed like everything in the room was white, except the green chalk board.

“1) What is your name? My name is Megan Spanos. 2) Where did you attend Elementary School? I attended Crossroads Christian Academy.”

Megan stopped reading, and looked up and around the class, “I went there until my mom couldn’t afford it any more, after my dad left my mom. She couldn’t home-school me because she had to go to keep going to work to support me and my brothers.”

“3) What is your favorite school subject? I love English and writing; but I know I will miss Bible Study. 4) What is your favorite type of music? I grew up listening to Christian music; and I love it and sing it all the time. 5) I learn most when the teacher… when the teacher is patient, kind, and listens and is always there for me when I have a question. 6) When I grow up, I want to… I hope I can grow up and get married and have kids.”

Benjamin burst out laughing. Laughter spread through the class like a virus.

“Now, class, there will be no mocking here—remember: each one of you will be coming up here soon. Megan, are you finished?”

“No, ma’am. I have a little to add.” A holy boldness came over Megan. “When I grow up, I want to... have kids, because I want to teach them like my mom taught me. There is a place called heaven. We will all face God some day. There is point in time in heaven—only for those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb--when we'll be given white robes. There will be a great multitude of people from all over the earth there, worshipping and praising Jesus.”

“Is that why this whole room is white?” Benjamin asked, mockingly. “Is this heaven?” He giggled with the boy next to him.

“Go ahead and giggle and laugh now Benjamin, but some day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Megan turned and asked, “Why did you have us do this on the first day, Mrs. Cochran?”

“Oh, that’s a perfect question. Telling us about yourself might seem a silly thing to do, but I wanted you to face the blank white spaces. Facing the blank page causes a writer to reach deep inside of her or himself to give us the wonderful stories and books we now enjoy today.”

“Like the Bible?”

“Oh, yes, especially the Bible—it is God-inspired.” Mrs. Cochran held up a white, leather-bound Bible for all to see.

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Apparently her son, Benjamin, didn't share her faith. I think you've written this well. One thing I was not too clear on, if this was a public school, Mrs. Cochran was pretty vocal about the Bible. Regardless, I like the message of this, especially to the middle school crowd!